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FERGUS CARVED OUT OF MEAGHER
By Clifton B. Worthen
Dec 20,1936
LEWISTOWN'S FIRST MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Left to right: John P. Barnes, Walter E. Miner, W. H. Culver, John M. Parrent, James H. Corcoran,
Matt Regan and William Forsyth.
Growth of Population and Increasing Demands of People For Local Government Units, Schools,
Roads and Such Like as Indicated By Minutes From Meagher County Commissioners' Journal
1879 to 1884 Aid in Bring About Creation of New County In 1886
Fergus County was created by the territorial legislature of 1885 as a result of growth of
population in eastern Meagher County during the preceding five years.
The demands of the people who lived from the Little Belt Mountains eastward to the
Musselshell River for local government units closer to their home is reflected in the minutes of
the county commissioners meetings.
In the Meagher county commissioners journal volume one sees a progressive series of
requests for new road districts judicial townships, School districts and voting precincts. The
reader can well imagine the variety of human hopes and schemes behind these various
requests. First a demand for roads as outlets to markets for sale of produce, and purchase of
supplies. Then came the need for justice courts to handle the inevitable clash of divergent
interests in the heterogeneous population which the new frontier attracted. Just as naturally
came the desire of these pioneers for schools in which to apprentice the younger generation in
the knowledge of the ages.

Describes how Fergus County roads, school districts and voting precincts were formed. Information taken from the Meagher County Commissioner's Journal 1879-1884

Creator

Clifton B. Worthen

Genre

newspapers

Type

Text

Date Original

1936-12-20

Subject (keyword)

School districts; Voting precincts; Meagher County, Montana; Fergus County, Montana;

Rights Management

No copyright restrictions

Contributing Institution

Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, Montana

Geographic Coverage

Meagher County, Montana. Fergus County, Montana.

Coverage-date

1879-1884

Digital Format

application/pdf

Physical format

Newspaper article

Digitization Specifications

Canon MX310 300dpi

Full text of this item

FERGUS CARVED OUT OF MEAGHER
By Clifton B. Worthen
Dec 20, 1936
Left to right: John P. Barnes, Walter E. Miner, W. H. Culver, John M. Parrent, James H. Corcoran, Matt Regan and William Forsyth.
Growth of Population and Increasing Demands of People For Local Government Units, Schools, Roads and Such Like as Indicated By Minutes From Meagher County Commissioners’ Journal 1879 to 1884 Aid in Bring About Creation of New County In 1886
Fergus County was created by the territorial legislature of 1885 as a result of growth of population in eastern Meagher County during the preceding five years.
The demands of the people who lived from the Little Belt Mountains eastward to the Musselshell River for local government units closer to their home is reflected in the minutes of the county commissioners meetings.
In the Meagher county commissioners journal volume one sees a progressive series of requests for new road districts judicial townships, School districts and voting precincts. The reader can well imagine the variety of human hopes and schemes behind these various requests. First a demand for roads as outlets to markets for sale of produce, and purchase of supplies. Then came the need for justice courts to handle the inevitable clash of divergent interests in the heterogeneous population which the new frontier attracted. Just as naturally came the desire of these pioneers for schools in which to apprentice the younger generation in the knowledge of the ages.
On Jan. 6, 1880, all of the Judith Basin, part of Meagher County was made a civil township upon the petition of settlers there while the Musselshell river part of the county was similarly dealt with.
J. E. Murray was appointed the justice of the peace for Judith Township. Murray who lived at Yogo was allowed a claim of $3.50 as his fee on a criminal case. He resigned July 13, 1880 and was succeeded by John S. Atchison.
The proceedings mention the report of John N. Atchison in the arrest and trail of James Jessup and Joseph Mud on charges of shooting and “robbing” P. Belenger and others in the Judith valley on June 6, 1880.
In this criminal case John Hodgson, W. Lindsay, Thos O’Gara, D.W. Drayper, and Burt Stowe presented claims for services as guards. Smith Castner boarded the prisoners and also served as guard. W. H. Philbrick was posse man, while J. P McCabe and E. J. Keeney were deputy sheriffs. The witnesses were were F. Marion, P. Belenger, C. Culsson, F. Bentrisse (?), Sam Myers, Wm. Loyd, Wm. Skelton, George Farmer, Wm. Hooper, Jas. Norris, W. H. Babcock, Thos. Purcell.
In September the settlement of the claims of the coroner’s jury for setting upon the body of ________”Durpher” in the Judith county was laid over. Mr. Atchison the justice of the peace made a report on the death of Philimin Durfur, deceased, and also on the trial of W. Selliur (?) and Michael Henrickson for murder. The expenses in this case show payments to “Indian Woman” Antelope, $21 for her services as interpreter and guide: Nellie Ringold (Negress) for board of prisoners: and to the coroner’s jury composed of Wm. Buckhan, Granville Turner, and Joseph Cutting. W. J Minar (who also received compensation for use of a wagon and team, M. D. Scott and Horace Clark, John Atchison served as coroner and G.W. Hunter acted as constable.
On September 7, 1880, a new township and two new voting precincts were created. One covered the territory from “Dug Out” ranch to the Missouri river north of the Judith River. This was called Hughes township and contained Hoover precinct No. 16 which voted at Belt City.
Big Spring township covered the part of the county north of the Snowy Mountains. There was also a precinct around Oka and at John Murphy’s house near the head of Judith valley, No. 18 at Granville Stuarts’ ranch near Fort Maginnis and Big Spring precinct at Reed’s ranch.
Election judges were appointed as follows: Oka precinct, No. 14, at J. H. Severance ranch, Alf J. Stephens, A. R. Barrows: Hoover precinct, No. 16 at Campbell’s store, Belt City, W. S. Smith, Wm. Buckhannon, and A. C. McMillian; Wolf precinct, No. 17, at John Woodhurst’s house, John Woodhurst, Pat Foley, Mat Price; Stuart precinct, No 18, at Granville Stuart’s ranch, John S. Atchison, Frank Day, Wm. Wunderlin; Big Spring precinct, No 20, at John Murphy’s ranch, Wm B. Edgar, John Murphy and W. C. Wallace.
That same fall Flatwillow township was created with the Musselshell river, the Judith mountains, the Snowy mountains and the Judith river as boundaries.
In the November election the vote in eastern Meagher precinct totaled 29 at Oka, 13 at Hoover, 0 at Wolf, 34 at Stuart’s, 43 at Reeds, 37 at Gardenland and 39 at Coal Mine and Hoover. The justice of peace vote included those in Big Spring township where A.S. Reed received 37 votes, A. T. Myers 27, D. C. Hornsby 34, and S. B. Gray 35, in Flatwillow Township Granville Stuart got 32 votes and C.S. Butler 26, but Stuart resigned in December.
In April 1881, the bond of S. B. Gray constable in Big Spring town ship was approved. In the summer of 1881 D. C. Hornsby resigned as justice of the peace in Big Spring town ship and in December Braithwill Gray was appointed his successor. The minutes of the commissioners in the spring of 1882 showed the postponement of the appointment of a justice at Maidenville
The justice ship in Big Spring township seemed to have been a somewhat ephemeral office for in September, 1882, John Toombs was appointed justice. A little later F.F. McPartlan resigned this office and W. C. Draper was appointed his successor with Dennis O’Brian as constable.
The year 1882 saw a criminal chased to Billings. Justice of the peace cases were listed against D. Hennessey, Wm. Van Sickles, Geo. Metzetal, John K. Kemper and C. Rock.
In March John Crowley was allowed $65 for bringing John Robinson, committed for burglary to the county seat, White Sulphur Springs, from Flatwillow creek. McFarland was allowed $20 for his services in this case.
The November election of 1882 in Big Spring township resulted in the election of Dr. L. A. LaPalme as coroner. The votes for justice of the peace included Theo. Gray 43, John Toombs 97, J. H. Crowley 58, and John Ferguson 48. For constable J. W. Ellis received 39 votes and M. McDonough 33.
The Flatwillow vote for the justiceship was J.T. Atkey 93 and C.S. Sanborn 89. The constable C.M. Fletcher received 78 votes and W. P. Chapman 67.
In the spring of 1883 H. F. Clement was appointed justice of the peace for Flatwillow township. In December John E. Wasson was made justice of Maiden.
A growing region such as Central Montana was in the 1880’s created a need for more roads. The would-be miners in Yogo gulch were among the earliest to receive attention for early in 1880 a petition to grant leave to J. S. Kelly, to collect toll on a road from Judith Gap to Yogo gulch was rejected by the county commissners. On September 7, 1880, a county road was ordered extended to Judith Gap to meet the needs of the settlers who had gradually pushed from the Smith river or Deep Creek valley eastward down the upper Musselshell river.
On September 22, 1880, road district No. 12 was created which covered the Judith valley. John Murphy was appointed supervisor. Murphy was appointed supervisor in the general election that fall. R. Anderson received 31 votes, Dan Crowley 24, and J. Ferguson 35 votes as road supervisors, but the district was divided and a district No 14 was added which was bounded by the Judith river, Ross Fork creek and the McDonald Creek divide with Daniel Crowley as supervisor. Flatwillow district No 15 was added with R. Anderson as supervisor.
In June 1881, the commissioners were petitioned for a road to run from Big Spring creek to Ft. Maginnis. Robert Sullenger, Ira McConnell and John Crowley were selected as viewers. In July McConnell was appointed road supervisor of Big Spring creek and road district. This new road was to run from Janeaux’s ford up Boyd creek to the summit of the McDonald creek divide, thence down the divide to Ft. Maginnis.
During the summer of 1881 the report of the viewers of the road from Martinsdale to Judith Gap was filed. A petition was received for a road from Judith Gap to the Judith Valley and another from the citizens at Overland for a change in the road. There was also a petition for a road privilege on the old Yogo road from Joseph Hancock but it was postponed. Later the commissioners granted a toll road from the so-called Toll Gate in Yogo gulch, a distance of six miles to the mouth of Bear gulch and the operator was authorized to charge as follows: One team and wagon, 50 cents; 1 yoke of cattle and wagon, 50 cents: every additional span 25 cents; no charges for saddle or pack horses loose stock or footmen.
Braithwaitt Gary [Gray?], S. S. Hobson, John W. Winter were the viewers appointed for a road from Judith Gap to the northern line of the county on the north side of the Judith river. In planning a road from Judith Gap to the north line of the county on Arrow creek, S. S. Hobson, S. B. Dawkins and David H. Cagle were appointed viewers. On the road from Ubet to F. A. Janeaux’s ranch on Big Spring creek to connect with the Ft. Maginnis road Angus McMillan, Thos. Gregory and John Toombs were named viewers with orders to report on April 10th or within five days thereafter. The winter of 1881-82 also saw a petition for a road from Reedsfort on Big Spring Creek to McFarland and DeLacy’s sheep ranch on Flatwillow creek indefinitely postponed. A road up Warm Spring creek from the Carroll road to Ft. Maginnis had F. F. McPartlan, J. F. Brady and C. S. Sanborn as viewers with orders to report April 17, 1882.
In June 1882, there was some trouble over the route of the road from Ubet to Janeaux’s. The viewers reported that the road from Judith Gap to the north boundary of the county was to run from Oka to Ubet, to Philbrook (on Morison’s new road) crossing the Judith at Morrison’s bridge, to intersect with the road from Utica to Gardenland, and thence north to the foothills to intersect with the old road known as the Martinsdale and Benton freight road.
J. F. Brady was appointed to be road supervisor of the Warm Springs Creek – Ft. Maginnis road but he was succeeded by C. S. Sanborn.
In response to a petition for a road from Judith Gap to Olden viewers were appointed. A petition for a road from Copperopolis to Utica by Moore’s Trail was laid over.
In March 1883, a road from Ubet to Brassey P. O as viewed by Gregory Toombs and McMillan in 1882 was accepted. That spring a petition for a road from Gold Run to Oka by Blankenship’s ranch and another for a road from Utica to the Martinsdale was received.
The road districts in this part of the county were Musselshell No. 10: Oka No. 13: Big Spring No. 14: Anderson No. 15 (to Ft. Maginnis): Warm Springs No. 16: Judith No. 12.
In June 1883, a toll road was authorized on Wolf Creek. Petitions were received for roads: From Ft. Maginnis to the Musselshell river by Chanberlain’s on McDonald creek, Freeman’s on Elk creek and Lawrence’s on Flatwillow creek. As adopted, this road followed the U.S. Mail and freighter’s route to the crossing of a Ford creek at Coder’s stage station. Chamberlain’s cutoff to Chamberlain’s stage station on McDonald creek, thence down the south fork on McDonald creek to a tributary of Elk Creek to Freeman’s ranch, and Yellow Water Creek to Flatwillow Creek.
Another petition asked for a road from McGin’s ranch to the Carroll road at J. L. Clegg’s ranch (now county farm).
In December, 1883, the Olden to Judith Gap road was expected to run from Mike O’Brien’s ranch on Swimming Woman creek, thence about ten miles to Careless creek near Moule’s rance (Bercail, P. O.) and on to Oka about eighteen miles away.
In March 1884, Samuel Phillips, Christian Hanson and George W. Hunter were appointed viewers of a road from Lewistown to the Big Spring.
Around the middle of the year 1881 the child population of Central Montana had so developed that a separate school district was created which embraced all of Meagher County north of Judith Gap and Snowy Mountains and east of the Judith River. During the summer a petition was received for the establishment of a school district between Judith Gap and Arrow creek. These places had had schools before the district was legally organized.
Judith school district No. 14 was created in the spring of 1882 and had as its boundaries the Judith River, Ross Fork, Wolf Butte and the Belt mountains.
The Maiden, Cottonwood and Ft. Maginnis-Stuart’s ranch school districts were established in September 1882.
Miscellaneous items from the Meagher county commissioners’ journal include: A nursing bill of L. Bangness for the care of Wm Pulvers at Yogo was reported in July 1880. Stock cattle of the county were assessed at $15 each. In September, 1880, the petition of the settlers for a post office in the Judith Basin and a recommendation that J. L. Patterson would make a suitable carrier was approved by the commissioners. The bill of the Benton Southern Stage Co. (H. C. Pound supt.) for a fare of $11.50 from Stanford to Martinsdale was allowed on the poor fund during the winter of 1882-83 and a similar bill from Reedsfort to White Sulphur Springs was likewise approved.

FERGUS CARVED OUT OF MEAGHER
By Clifton B. Worthen
Dec 20,1936
LEWISTOWN'S FIRST MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Left to right: John P. Barnes, Walter E. Miner, W. H. Culver, John M. Parrent, James H. Corcoran,
Matt Regan and William Forsyth.
Growth of Population and Increasing Demands of People For Local Government Units, Schools,
Roads and Such Like as Indicated By Minutes From Meagher County Commissioners' Journal
1879 to 1884 Aid in Bring About Creation of New County In 1886
Fergus County was created by the territorial legislature of 1885 as a result of growth of
population in eastern Meagher County during the preceding five years.
The demands of the people who lived from the Little Belt Mountains eastward to the
Musselshell River for local government units closer to their home is reflected in the minutes of
the county commissioners meetings.
In the Meagher county commissioners journal volume one sees a progressive series of
requests for new road districts judicial townships, School districts and voting precincts. The
reader can well imagine the variety of human hopes and schemes behind these various
requests. First a demand for roads as outlets to markets for sale of produce, and purchase of
supplies. Then came the need for justice courts to handle the inevitable clash of divergent
interests in the heterogeneous population which the new frontier attracted. Just as naturally
came the desire of these pioneers for schools in which to apprentice the younger generation in
the knowledge of the ages.